US5042371A

US5042371A - Newspaper storage and bundling rack

Info

Publication number: US5042371A
Application number: US07/529,334
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip R. Katz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-05-29
Filing date: 1990-05-29
Publication date: 1991-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-29

Abstract

Apparatus for storing and bundling recyclable material includes rotatable containment members separated by a space, which support the recyclable material spanning the space. Rotation of the containment members allows bundling material lined up with the space to completely encircle the recyclable material without interference from the structure of the storage and bundling apparatus.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an arrangement for bundling newspaper and, more particularly, to such an arrangement which both stores and bundles newspapers and in addition can be made aesthetically pleasing in appearance.

In recent years, environmental concerns have resulted in an increased awareness of the need to recycle certain materials in order to save dwindling natural resources. One such material is paper, typically in the form of newspaper. In fact, many municipalities have recently instituted mandatory recycling programs which require that residents save and bundle their newspapers, which are then taken to a recycling center for processing.

Typically, municipalities require that the residents bundle their newspapers in stacks of height from 6" to 9", which bundles are then secured by twine, paper tape, or the like. In order to comply with these requirements, many homeowners merely place their newspapers in a pile until the pile reaches the desired stack height. The pile of newspapers is then secured. For many people, such as the aged and physically handicapped, this is a difficult task, since a 9" stack of newspaper weighs a considerable amount and it is difficult to manipulate so as to put the twine or paper tape beneath the bundle during the securing process. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an arrangement which assists in the bundling of newspapers.

As was previously mentioned, prior to securing the newspapers in a bundle, they must be somehow stored. It is therefore another object of this invention to provide a newspaper bundling arrangement that provides storage for the newspapers prior to bundling.

A supply of previously read newspapers can be rather unsightly. It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a newspaper bundling and storage arrangement so designed as to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and additional objects are attained in accordance with the principles of this invention by providing apparatus for bundling newspapers and the like which comprises a base and a pair of upstanding side members. A support is mounted for rotation on each of the side members in a cantilevered manner. The supports extend toward each other with their axes of rotation being co-linear, there being a space between the supports, which space is bridged by a newspaper supported by the supports. When the desired amount of newspaper is held by the supports, the bundling material (i.e., twine or paper tape or the like) is secured to the newspaper and the supports are rotated about their co-linear axes, with the bundling material passing between the supports in the space which separates them, the bundling material thereby encircling the stack of newspapers.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, there is further provided means for securing the newspapers to the supports so that the supports along with the newspapers supported thereby may be rotated as a unit without the newspapers falling therefrom.

In accordance with a further aspect of this invention, there is further provided an arrangement whereby the supports are releasable secured against rotation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which like elements in different figures thereof have the same reference numeral and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a newspaper storage and bundling arrangement, combined with a magazine rack, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the rotational mounting of the supports on the side members;

FIG. 4 is an perspective view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 with a supply of bundling tape partially extracted from a storage compartment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 wherein newspapers are supported by the supports and secured thereto, a supply of bundling tape is supported on the base, and tape is partially pulled out from the supply;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view like FIG. 5 showing partial rotation of the supports with tape from the supply secured to the newspapers;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view like FIG. 6 after sufficient rotation of the supports that the bundling tape completely encircles the newspaper; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an arrangement constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-7 illustrate a first embodiment of apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. As shown therein, such apparatus, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, includes a base 12 and a pair of

side members

14 and 16 which are supported on the base 12. The

side members

14 and 16 extend upwardly from the base 12 on opposite ends thereof. On each of the

side members

14, 16 there is mounted for rotation in a cantilevered manner a

respective support member

18, 20. As illustrated herein, each of the

support members

18, 20 includes a respective

planar wall

22, 24 and

newspaper containment structure

26, 28 on one side of each of the

respective walls

22, 24.

The

support members

18, 20 are mounted for rotation on their

respective side members

14, 16 and extend toward each other, leaving a space 30 separating them. The axes of rotation of the

support members

18, 20 are co-linear and, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the rotational mounting structure may include

axles

32, 34 supported on the

side members

14, 16 and extending parallel to the

walls

22, 24 which are mounted thereon by structure not shown.

As shown in FIGS. 1-7, the

newspaper containment structure

26, 28 illustratively takes the form of a three sided rack open toward the top and the space 30 so that newspaper 36 supported thereby spans the space 30. Illustratively, according to the first embodiment, on the other side of each of the

planar walls

22, 24 there is provided a four

sided magazine rack

38, 40. When the

support members

18 and 20 are holding newspapers and magazines, it is desirable to secure the support members against undesirable rotation to prevent the newspapers and magazines from falling out. Accordingly, there may be provided between the

support members

18, 20 and their

respective walls

14, 16 detent means 42, 44 which may take the form of a spring loaded ball and socket arrangement.

In use, when newspapers are ready for recycling, they are placed in the

newspaper containment structure

26, 28, bridging the space 30, as shown in FIG. 5. At the same time, magazines may be stored in the magazine racks 38 and 40. Since magazines are typically more pleasant in appearance than used newspapers, the storage and bundling unit 10 may be so placed in a person's home that the newspaper storage side is against the wall and the magazine storage side is outwardly disposed so as to be visible, thereby presenting a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

When a sufficient amount of newspaper 36 fills the

newspaper containment structure

26, 28, the unit 10 is used for bundling the newspaper so that it may be more easily handled for transport to a recycling center. A preferred material for securing a stack of newspaper into a bundle is paper tape, since this material need not be separated from the newspaper in the recycling process. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, the unit 10 is provided with a storage compartment 46 behind the wall 22 for storing a supply 48 of paper tape. The tape supply 48 preferably comprises a standard roll of masking tape which is mounted for rotation on a plate member 50 which in turn is mounted on a base member 52 which forms a part of the cover of the storage compartment 46. The other part of the storage compartment cover is a member 54 hingedly mounted on the open side of the storage compartment 46. The base member 52 is provided with an extension 56 and the cover member 54 is provided with a recess 58 complemental to the extension 56. Thus, the extension 56 may be placed in the recess 58 and the base and

cover members

52, 54 may together close off the storage compartment 46 with the supply of tape 48 contained therein. The base 12 of the unit 10 is provided with a recess 60 along an edge and aligned with the space 30. The recess 60 is also complemental to the extension 56 so that the extension 56 may be inserted therein to support the supply of tape 48 on the base 12 in line with the space 30, as shown in FIG. 5.

In accordance with this invention, there is also provided means for securing the newspaper 36 to the

newspaper containment structure

26, 28 so that it is retained therein when the

support members

18, 20 are rotated to effect the bundling operation. Since the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7 also includes

magazine racks

38, 40, the magazines must also be secured within their racks. Toward this end, there is provided a pair of

elastic cords

62, 64 secured at one end to the

newspaper containment structures

26, 28, respectively. The other end of each of the

elastic cords

62, 64 is terminated by a

hook member

66, 68, respectively. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 5-7, when the newspaper 36 is ready for bundling, the

elastic cords

62, 64 are extended over the newspaper 36 held within the

newspaper containment structure

26, 28 and also over the magazines held in the

magazine racks

38, 40. The

hook members

66, 68 are then hooked over a rail of a respective magazine rack. Thus, the

support members

18, 20 may be rotated as a unit with the newspapers and magazines supported thereby being secured against falling therefrom.

Accordingly, after a sufficient supply of newspaper 36 is contained within the

newspaper containment structure

26, 28 the supply of tape 48 is removed from the storage compartment 46 and mounted on the base 12, as shown in FIG. 5. The

elastic cords

62, 64 are then utilized to secure the newspapers to the

containment structure

26, 28. Tape is pulled from the supply 48 and adhered to the newspaper 36. This adherence is within the space 30. Next, the

support members

18, 20 along with the newspaper 36 are rotated as a unit so that the tape 48 encircles the newspaper 36 within the space 30 without interference from any of the structure of the unit 10, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. By the time the

support members

18, 20 are returned to their original orientation, the tape 48 has completely encircled the newspaper 36, providing a secured bundle suitable for transport. The

elastic cords

62, 64 are then released and the bundle of newspaper may be removed. The supply of tape 48 may then be returned to the storage compartment 46 and storage of newspaper may be resumed.

FIGS. 1-7 illustrate an embodiment of the invention suitable for use in a residence. FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of this invention which is suitable for use in an office environment to hold trade papers, computer paper, and the like, for recycling. As shown in FIG. 8, the inventive arrangement includes a base 70 and side members 72, 74.

Paper support trays

78, 80 are mounted in a cantilevered manner for rotation on the side members 72, 74, respectively, about a common axis 82. The

trays

78, 80 are separated by a space 84, below which a supply of tape 86 is mounted on the base 70. The

trays

78, 80 are releaseably secured against rotation by means not shown, and there is also provided, although not shown, some means for securing paper contained within the

trays

78, 80 from falling from the trays when the trays together with the paper are rotated. Operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is similar to that for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7 and no further description thereof need be given.

Although the described embodiments have been shown with supplies of paper tape, other bundling material may be provided such as, for example, twine.

Accordingly, there have been disclosed arrangements for storing and bundling recyclable material. While several illustrative embodiments have been disclosed, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and adaptations to the disclosed embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, which is only intended to be limited by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for bundling newspapers and the like, comprising:

a base;

a pair of side members supported on said base and extending upwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation;

a pair of support members, each of said support members including a multi-sided structure having two adjacent sides open;

means for mounting said support members each on a respective one of said side members for independent rotation about an axis parallel to a first of said open sides, said mounting means holding said support members so that the other open sides of said support members are in parallel face-to-face relation and separated by a space, so that a newspaper can be passed through said first open sides of said support members and extend through said other open sides of bridge said space and be supported by both said support members;

means for securing a newspaper in said multisided structures of said pair of support members so that said pair of support members along with said newspaper may be rotated as a unit;

a supply of bundling material; and

means for supporting said supply on said base in line with said space;

wherein a first of said support members includes means for storing said supply of bundling material.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said supply includes a roll of adhesive backed tape.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including:

means for releasably securing said pair of support members against rotation.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said releasable securing means includes detent means between each of said pair of support members and its respective side member.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first support member is formed with a storage compartment having an open side and said supply of bundling material includes a base member and means for mounting said bundling material on said base member, wherein said base member also functions as a cover for said storage compartment to close the open side thereof.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said securing means includes an elastic cord attached to one of said support members and extending over said first open side of said one support member.

7. Apparatus for bundling newspapers and the like, comprising:

a base;

a pair of support members;

first means for mounting in a cantilevered manner a first of said support members on a fist of said side members for rotation about an axis; and

second means for mounting in a cantilevered manner the other of said support members on the other of said side members for rotation about said axis;

each of said support members including:

a planar wall parallel to said axis;

containment means on a first side of said wall, said containment means being open to said space; and

rack means on the other side of said wall adapted to hold magazines and the like;

wherein said pair of support members extend toward each other from their respective side members with said pair of support members being separated by a space, said pair of support members being adapted to support a newspaper which bridges said space.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 further including:

means for securing a newspaper in said pair of containment means and magazines in said rack means so that said pair of support members along with a newspaper bridging said space may be rotated as a unit.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said securing means includes an elastic cord extending between one of said rack means over its respective planar wall and to the containment means on the other side of said planar wall.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7 further including: a supply of bundling material; and means for supporting said supply on said base in line with said space.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said supply includes a roll of adhesive backed tape.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein a first of said support members includes means for storing said supply of bundling material.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said first support member is formed with a storage compartment having an open side and said supply of bundling material includes a base member and means for mounting said bundling material on said base member, wherein said base member also functions as a cover for said storage compartment to close the open side thereof.

14. The apparatus according to claim 7 further including:

means for releasably securing said pair of support members against rotation.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said releasable securing means includes detent means between each of said pair of support members and its respective side member.